Veteran-built.
Storm season
Rain and flooding guides
San Diego gets most of its rain in a few big storms. Here is how to keep water out of the house and what to check when it gets in.
Fix it before it rains
Rain and flooding projects
Inspect cast iron drain pipes before the rainsWeek 41 · October · 2 hours (plus camera)
Replace a toilet wax ringWeek 6 · February · 1 to 2 hours
Install a French drainWeek 12 · March · 1 to 3 days
Mold check and cleanupWeek 42 · October · 2 hours to 1 day
Roof tune-up: drone check, seal penetrations and ridgesWeek 10 · March · 1 day
Fix grading and prep sandbags and a sump pumpWeek 44 · October · 1 dayClean gutters and extend downspoutsWeek 11 · March · Half a day
Reflash and seal roof penetrationsWeek 45 · November · 1 dayWarning signs
Where water gets in
Roof
- Cracked pipe boots and vent flashing
- Missing ridge caps
- Rusted wall flashing
- Clogged valleys and gutters
Drains and sewer
- Gurgling toilets after storms
- Several slow drains at once
- Sewer smell in bathrooms (failed wax ring)
- Old cast iron under the slab
Yard and foundation
- Soil sloping toward the house
- Downspouts dumping at the foundation
- Water standing 24 hours after rain
- Damp crawlspace
Inside
- Stains on ceilings and under windows
- Musty smell (mold)
- Swollen baseboards
- Peeling paint on exterior walls
After water gets in
First 48 hours
- Stay safe: shut off power to wet areas at the breaker if you can do it from a dry spot.
- Stop the source: shut the main water valve or tarp the roof.
- Photograph and video everything before you move it. That is your insurance evidence.
- Call your insurance company and get a claim number. Ask what they cover before hiring a water mitigation company.
- Extract water with a wet/dry vac, open windows and run fans and a dehumidifier. Mold starts in 24 to 48 hours.
- Pull wet carpet pad and baseboards. Drywall wet more than a day usually needs to come out 2 ft above the waterline.
- Keep receipts for everything: fans, hotel, meals. Many policies reimburse them.
Free sandbags are often available at San Diego fire stations before storms. Flood damage from rising water is usually not covered by homeowners insurance; that takes a separate flood policy (NFIP or private).